DENVER,CO--APRIL 9TH 2010--Colorado Rockies manager, Jim Tracy, signs a few autographs for fans along first base at Coors Field before opening day against the San Diego Padres Friday morning. Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Crowds gather on the roof deck at Tavern Downtown before the start of the 2010 Colorado Rockies home opener against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post

The flag is unfurled at before the start of the 2010 Colorado Rockies home opener against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post

The Rockies take the field at Coors for the first time in the 2010 season for the 2010 Colorado Rockies home opener against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Andy Cross/The Denver Post

A postcard perfect day — and great expectations — greeted baseball fans at Coors Field today as the Rockies jumped into their home schedule with an opening-day game against San Diego.

The field was pristine. Temperature in the 60s. Slight wind. Crowd buzzing. Humidor humming.

The Denver Post had live updates from the game and the neighborhood throughout the day:

Barmes’ bomb

Well, that bomb clinches a nearly perfect day for the Rockies. Clint Barmes just hit a three-run bomb to left to give the Rockies a 7-0 lead in the eighth. It was Barmes, you might recall, who hit a walkoff homer off of former Padres’ closer Trevor Hoffman in the 2005 season opener at Coors Field.

With a victory, the Rockies will improve to 2-2, with a mere 158 games to go. But there can be no doubt this is a talented team that’s fun to watch. Clearly the crowd of 45,509 — a Coors Field regular season record — had a good time. Most of the crowd is still here. The fans will begin piling into the LoDo bars, grills and various eateries shortly.

Where’s the music?

Here’s the day’s biggest disappointment. Ryan Spilborghs pinch hit for Jorge De La Rosa in the seventh, but there was no music accompanying “Spilly” to the plate. That’s blasphemy! All spring fans have wondered what his walk-up song would be. A glitch? Or is Spilly teasing us?

Here is De La Rosa’s line: seven innings, no runs, one hit allowed, nine strikeouts, one walk, one hit batter. A terrific performance.

Blast from the past

It was on this day in 1993, in the Rockies’ first season, that Eric Young hit a leadoff homer in the first inning at the old Mile High Stadium, sparking the Rockies to an 11-4 win over the Montreal Expos. The first win in franchise history came before a major league, opening-day record crowd of 80,722.

OK, back to the future, er, present. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa just set the Padres down in order in the seventh. He has allowed just one hit and struck out nine.

San Diego center fielder Scott “Unhappy” Hairston is three-quarters of the way to wearing the golden sombrero.

Veteran push for 3-0 lead

Todd Helton just did what he does best: work for a pitch he likes and drive it. Helton’s 3-2 line-drive single to right scored Carlos Gonzalez from second the give the Rockies a 3-0 lead. CarGo reached on a single and moved into scoring position on a perfect sac bunt by Dexter Fowler.

Now it’s time to see how far Jorge De La Rosa can take his masterpiece. Through five innings, he’s allowed just a single hit and struck out eight.

Ever since last June, De La Rosa has become a dominant pitcher. He was 0-6 with a 5.43 ERA after his first 10 starts last season, but went 16-3 with a 3.94 ERA after June 1.

Rockies take 2-0 lead

Ian Stewart’s spring training game plan was to become a better all-around hitter. So far, so good. Is broken-bat single chased home Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe to give the Rockies a 2-0 lead after four. Hawpe blasted an opposite-field double off the left-field wall.

The ballpark is jammed, of course, but that meant some long lines at the turnstiles. I’ve had some folks tell me they spent 20-30 minutes trying to get into Coors early this afternoon.

Overall, the crowd is lively and into a game that’s moving at a quick pace. It’s hard to remember a better home opener, weather-wise

The no-no is no more

Not that anybody really thought Jorge De La Rosa was going to throw a no-hitter today, but he has dominating stuff so far.

De La Rosa hit Kyle Banks with two outs in the fourth and then gave up a hit-and-run scratch single up the middle to Case Headley — the Padres’ first hit of the day. But De La Rosa escaped the jam, striking out Scott Hairston with another wicked breaking ball. It’s DLR’s seventh K of the day.

Helton in home-openers

Todd Helton just grounded out sharply to first base, stranding Carlos Gonzalez at third and Dexter Fowler at first as a Rockies third-inning rally died. Here’s an interesting fact for Rockies’ seamheads: Helton is a career .396 hitting on opening day, but he’s never hit a home run in an opener.

Hitless through three

After three innings, the Padres have no hits and just one base runner. After striking our Nick Hundley and Everth Cabrera, De La Rosa walked pitcher Clayton Richard. But he just struck out Jerry Hairston. That’s five Ks in three innings for De La Rosa.

Scoreless first

Padres’ lefty Clayton Richard set the Rockies down in order in the bottom of the first, but leadoff hitter Carlos Gonzalez just missed knocking the ball out over the center-field wall. FYI, the Rockies are 54-17 in games where CarGo starts from the leadoff spot.

Stadium change

There’s an interesting cosmetic change at Coors Field. Up on the concourse, beyond the left-field bleachers, there is a no eatery. It’s called “17 Burger Shack,” obviously for Todd Helton. Hmm, is Helton branching out to the burger business?

Down on the field, De La Rosa is dealing, setting down the Padres in order in the second and whiffing Scott Hairston to end the inning.

First pitch

Today’s opening pitch came at 2:12 p.m, the temperature was 62 degrees.

And we have our first bit of controversy. Adrian Gonzalez, the Padres’ lone player with all-star credentials, thought he was hit on a pitch by Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa. He whined loud and long, but it did him no good. De La Rosa struck out Gonazalez on a breaking ball to retire the Padres in order.

There is a bet in the pressbox that De La Rosa has the stuff to be the first Rockies pitcher to throw a no-hitter. When DLR pitches like he did in the first, he just might be a good bet.

Traditional day

Five branches of the military were just honored. That’s always a nice touch. The ballpark is probably two-thirds full as the Padres’ starting lineup is being introduced.

On the jumbotron, they just showed Clint Barmes’ walkoff homer off the Padres’ Trevor Hoffman in the home-opener in 2005. The theme for today is “tradition.”

The Rockies are now being introduced and the biggest cheer so far is for coach and former Blake Street Bomber Vinny Castilla.

Jim Tracy just got a nice hand. The team is, after all, 75-44 under his watch.

Uni watch

Rockies are wearing their all-white uniforms, of course. It’s tradition for opening day. I have not heard if there are any plans to break out the purple tops this season. Some fans love ’em, some fans hate ’em. Personally, I think they look like softball uniforms.

Temperatures are in the lower 60s right now. It’s T-shirt weather for those in the sun, but those in the shade are shivering a bit.

Some quick hits from the Rockies’ pregame notes

The Rockies are 10-7 all-time in home openers. Last year, they beat the Phillies 10-3.

Home was sweet to the Rockies last year. They went 51-30 at Coors, and only the Giants (.642) posted a better home winning percentage.

Todd Helton sits tied for 43rd place all-time for most doubles by a major leaguer. Who’s he tied with? Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson. Hmm, Henderson and Helton, could two guys be more different?

Hard to believe, but Coors Field is now the fourth-oldest park in the National League. Only Florida’s Sun Life Stadium (1987), Dodger Stadium (1962) and Wrigley Field (1914) are older. Coors opened in 1995.

LoDo is alive

The Irish bars are decked out as if it’s St. Patrick’s Day. The street’s are jammed with purple-clad fans. It’s one of the best days of the year.

As always Coors Field — the field — is perfect, thanks to the work of heads groundskeeper Mark Razum.

Now, on to the players.

This is a big day for Jorge De La Rosa. Can he handle the heat of the big moment? Will he meltdown or look like the spring training pitcher who dominated when fewer eyes were on him and the at-bats didn’t count?

And it’s time for the Rockies to clean up their defense.

Goose digs the good ol’ Rockies

Hall of Fame pitcher Goose Gossage — who’s seen his share of baseball in Colorado having been born, raised and retired here — likes what he sees in this year’s edition of the Rockies.

“I watch the Rockies all the time. I love Tulo (Troy Tulowitzki) and I have always loved watching Todd (Helton) play. Todd is the consummate professional. They are both hard-nosed guys who play the game right. They could have played in any era. I mean, you look at Tulo. If somebody tries to take him out with a hard slide at second he just gets up and keeps playing. He is so much fun to watch.”

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